Agany defends stand on NSS bill after backlash
The former Spokesperson of the National Assembly, John Agany, defended himself after being criticised by his constituents for voting in favour of the controversial National Security Services Bill in the National Parliament.
Agany told The City Review in an exclusive interview Friday that there was nothing wrong with the articles or subsections passed by lawmakers unless they are implemented incorrectly by the security agencies.
“In these particular laws, namely articles, 54, 55, and 57, there is nothing wrong with them. Unless practitioners who are believed to be national Security Services apply them wrongly. That will be absolutely an administrative issue within the National Security Services,” Agany said.
According to Agany, National Security Services are allowed to arrest even foreign diplomats when they are suspected of committing crimes.
“National Security Service and the National Police Service jointly work together to contain criminal cases, with collaboration with local authorities and even citizens when comes to their countries’ National Security issues,” he said.
“There is nothing wrong with this national security service law. Unless our people want to stay in a country of lawlessness because there are lawless individuals in every country in the world,” he said, adding that it was that context in which the lawmakers brought that law to life during the voting sessions.
This comes after one of the constituents from Aweil East County questioned the necessity of passing the National security bill at a time when the country is grappling with an economic crisis.
“I want to ask my area MP, how vital is passing this security bill at this time. The bill gave absolute power to the NSS to silence citizens from questioning their government. How will it help us in this economic crisis? Tell us if you participate there during the voting process,” he said.
However, Agany retorted, saying the laws are superior to persons and that suspects are detained when an individual or group of individuals commit crimes against other people or institutions.
“They are arrested as suspects. Eventually, they are sent to the competent courts of law within 24 hours to be judged and convicted. This is the role that is meant to be played by any law,” he said.
“There is no absolute freedom for people to do whatever they want to do in this world. Everything we do and say is guided by standard laws. I repeat, there is no absolute freedom in every society,” he added.
According to Agany, citizens need to be properly guided by the laws and those who are still beating the drum of absolute freedom have to respect the law.
“We must be properly guided by laws. Yes, we are. So those of us who are beating the drum of absolute freedom, let us come to our senses and respect the law,” he said.
“As for your question about those who are still not comfortable with this law and who have not read my responses, they will stand with time. There is nothing that can be done about it. Let us respect the laws,” he added.
